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Earning and Spending in New Zealand

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Earning & Spending

New Zealand’s welcoming atmosphere extends to its student-friendly visa policies, enabling international students to engage in part-time work while pursuing their studies. This not only offers a chance to accumulate valuable work experience but also serves as a means to support daily living expenses. While living costs vary between cities, with places like Auckland and Wellington having slightly higher expenses, strategic budgeting, opting for affordable accommodation, and leveraging available student discounts collectively contribute to fostering a satisfying and financially sustainable student life experience.

Tuition Fees

Tuition fees in New Zealand vary across universities and colleges, along with different courses. Here’s an approximate range for annual tuition fees:

Undergraduate Courses

• Arts: NZ $10,000 – $12,000 per year
• Business: NZ $12,500 – $15,000 per year
• Science: NZ $12,500 – $18,000 per year

Post-graduate Courses

• Arts: NZ $14,000 – $16,000 per year
• Business: NZ $18,000 – $24,000 per year
• Science: NZ $18,000 – $24,500 per year

Living Expenses

Apart from tuition fees, the estimated annual living expenses in New Zealand range from NZ $12,000 to $15,000. This encompasses transportation, accommodation, groceries, and other daily expenditures. However, individual lifestyles can influence these costs, and the figures provided are approximate.

New Zealand boasts one of the lowest costs of living among developed countries.

(Values mentioned above are based on the latest criteria and may be subject to change in the near future.)

Income and Expenses

Part-Time Work Rights

As a student in New Zealand, part-time employment can assist in covering basic living expenses. Popular part-time job options include:

  • Supermarket attendant
  • Small restaurant attendant
  • Opportunities in the campus library, computer lab, etc.
  • Door-to-door marketing
  • Call center jobs

Part-Time Work Rights

Students are allowed to work up to 20 hours during the ongoing semester, excluding vacation periods, enabling them to take on part-time roles.

Full-Time Work Rights

During breaks from the ongoing semester or the academic year, students can work full-time. This includes holidays such as winter and Christmas breaks. For a full-time program lasting at least eight months (minimum two semesters), students can work full-time during the Christmas and New Year holiday period, even without a job offer.

Minimum Wage Rates

All students on a student visa can work up to 20 hours a week during semesters and full-time during vacations. The current minimum wage rate in New Zealand is NZ $14.75 per hour (before taxes) for workers aged over 16. Tax reclaims can be processed at the end of each financial year by lodging tax returns (values are subject to change in the future).